Providing The Best Information on Plants and Solutions For Your Garden

Hedges, tall & low, garden hedges & screen plants

Various hedge plants for your garden !. These pages describe, and provide photos of different large and small hedges that may be suitable for your garden.Hedges are not only an attractive addition to your garden,they also provide some very useful functions.Take screening for example.Hedges make great visual screens.They also help designate your property boundaries and act like growing fences.If you can create a thick hedge it acts like a fence, keeping things in and keeping others out.Hedges are also great to look at, particularly flowering hedges, or hedges with changing foliage.If you have a boundary that has an unsightly view then growing the right hedge will help improve the look and atmosphere of your property.

When you are choosing plants for your hedge you should have a think about a number of factors.A most important issue is how tall you want the hedge to grow.Many times people pick a hedge because it is quick growing, but it may also have the added disadvantage of needing regular pruning.You should also look into your soil type and climate, will the hedge plant grow in your area and how long with it live ?.Also, most importantly, is the area in sun or shade ?.We have listed a number of hedges that are suitable for sun and other that are suitable for shade, or semi-shade.Have a scroll through the pages and you may find a hedge plant that is suitable for your garden.

Cape Plumbago hedge - Plumbago capensis

Plumbago is a fast growing shrub that can be grown as a hedge from 1m up to 3m tall.The foliage of Plumbago becomes compact after pruning and this makes it great for creating medium to tall hedges. It has been used as a hedge plant for many years in temperate and warm temperate gardens. Plumbago is commonly used in cottage and mixed gardens in rural and suburban regions.

There are a number of Plumbago varieties available from plant nurseries and garden centres.There are white, blue and dark blue flowering varieties.The flowering occurs most of the year in warmer climates.The Flowering can be quite attractive with the plant being covered with masses of flowers.One very popular variety is "Royal Cape" (pbr) which has darker blue flowers.

As a hedge Plumbago is one of the fastest growing hedges, it has the drawback of requiring lots of pruning to keep it neat, some gardeners prefer to let the foliage grow longer, and prune only once or twice a year.

Plumbago is quite a lush looking hedge when growing well. It is however very tough and water-wise once established.Best climates for growing Plumbago are temperate,warm temperate and mediterranean regions. Avoid areas with heavy frosts as the plant will drop leaf. Plumbago will grow in most soils, but heavy clay soils will slow growth somewhat. Good drainage is important.The best position in the garden is full sun,avoid shaded spots as shade will reduce foliage coverage.

To care for your Plumbago hedge plant the shrubs in a well drained soil and use organic planting mix.Use slow release fertiliser.Water the plants well for the first few months.Plumbago is drought tolerant, so once the roots have developed, it usually grows well on just natural rainfall.Plants will take a little while to settle in and then bang…off they go… and growth multiplies as the roots develop.Pruning can be done anytime in warm regions and in areas with cooler winters it is best done in spring or autumn.

Pests are not usually a problem for Plumbago. Fertilise once or twice a year if you want Plumbago to grow quickly. Fertilising can speed up growth substantially with this plant. Plumbago makes a good screen plant, but also has a tendency to grow fairly wide and bushy. Plumbago plants live many decades and seem to live longer when pruned regularly.

Orange Jessamine -Murraya paniculata hedge

Murraya paniculata "Orange Jessamine" is one of the most popular hedges plants.As a hedge it can be grown from 1m up to 3m tall. It has lush green, thick foliage and masses of white flowers throughout the warmer months. The flowers have a beautiful jasmine scent. Murraya paniculata is one of the most cultivated garden shrubs in Australia.

Murraya can be grown into an excellent hedge or screen plant, from 1m up to 3m tall. Once established it is surprisingly hardy for a subtropical plant. Murraya will grow well in Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Darwin, subtropical, Mediterranean and temperate regions.

Murraya "Orange Jessamine" has upright bushy growth, which has made it very usefully as a tall screen plant.Murraya will grow in most soils, which are well drained.Organically rich soils are best.Best positions in the garden are full sun,however Murraya will grow well in semi-shade spots also. Under good conditions "Orange Jessamine" is a fast growing hedge plant.Murraya can be shaped into a neat formal hedge or left to grow into an informal hedge or screen.

To care for your Murraya paniculata,plant with some organic planting mix and use slow release fertiliser.It is important to stake this plant to help develop a good root system.Pick a spot which is away from frosts. Fertilise with a general purpose garden fertiliser in spring and autumn. Pruning can be done at any time of year,in cooler regions it is best to do any hard pruning in spring or autumn.Once your hedge is in shape, trim it regularly to create a neat formal shape.Pests are not a big problem for Murraya,but they can be attacked by soil "Curl grubs" which eat the roots.Aphids will also attack new growth in spring.Murraya can potentially live for many decades.

Murraya paniculata "Min-a-min" dwarf low hedge

Murraya paniculata "Min-a-min" (pbr) is a dwarf form of the larger growing shrub Murraya paniculata, which is suitable for hedging. The foliage colour is light green and "Min-a-min" develops heaps of white perfumed flowers in summer. Flowering tends to occur mainly during the warmer parts of the year. "Min-a-min" grows to around 60cm tall if left unpruned. As a hedge it makes a nice low hedge from 25cm up to around 50cm tall.

Due to the low bushy growth of this shrub Murraya "Min-a-min" makes a great low hedge. "Min-a-min" is also fairly low maintenance once established. However, it must be noted that this is a slow growing hedge that will take some patience to establish. As a result, when planting this hedge it is usually worth planting shrubs closer together than normal. This means that for very low hedges you will have a result quite quickly. Best soil types for Murraya paniculata "Min-a-min" are organically rich soils, loams, sandy loams and they can grow in sandy soils also. Best light conditions are full sun, however this plant can also grow in semi-shade positions as well. Best climates are subtropical and warm temperate regions. Please note that the photo shown is a Murraya paniculata flower, however the flowers are nearly identical to the Murraya "Min-a-min".

Once this plant is established it is very easy care. There do not seem to be many pest or disease problems with this little hedge plant. Although "Min-a-min" is slow growing generally, it will grow faster and larger in subtropical climates. For other climates where it grows, it is important to apply fertiliser in spring and summer to increase growth. Any general purpose garden fertiliser is fine, or use a liquid fertiliser every two weeks. Once you have grown this plant into a hedge it will be very rewarding as it will produce perfumed flowers in spring and summer. Plants are easy care and live for many years.